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Oberlin College Under Federal Investigation Over Professor's Antisemitic Rhetoric

One of the country's most liberal colleges is being investigated over allegations it allowed antisemitism to breed on campus including having a professor of peace studies who has called for the elimination of Israel and the death of Salman Rushdie.

Oberlin College in Ohio could lose chunks of the millions in annual federal funding as a result of the probe, whose existence it has not yet disclosed to students, alumni and donors. Last year, the school took in more than $5 million in federal grants.

The private liberal arts college is being investigated for possible breaches of Title VI by in Ohio by the federal Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The title protects students from being harassed and discriminated against because of their religion.

The probe, which was opened on September 29, was prompted by a complaint filed in 2019 by Oberlin College graduate Melissa Landa, who founded the Alliance for Israel to counter the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting Israel and hostility toward Jewish students at the school. Landa, who graduated from Oberlin in 1986, is president of the Oberlin Chapter of Alums for Campus Fairness, a non-profit that works to end antisemitism.

She sent the department a dossier of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel incidents between 2014 and 2017— and four years later, it finally acted.

The dossier focuses on tenured peace studies and religion professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, who has called himself "professor of peace" but who is accused of supporting Hamas and giving students credit for writing anti-Israel blogs.

It alleges Mahallati told his classes in 2016 that "Israel is a colonialist state" and "Israel is an apartheid state."

Mahallati, 71, has also taught at Columbia, Georgetown and Princeton. Before becoming an Oberlin professor, he was Iran's ambassador to the United Nations where he was accused of defending the fatwa, or Islamic decree, issued by Khomeini to murder novelist Salman Rushdie.

"I think all Islamic countries agree with Iran," he told Reuters in 1989, Fox News reported. All Islamic nations and countries agree with Iran that any blasphemous statement against sacred figures should be condemned."

Rushdie lived under the threat of murder since 1989 and in 2022 he was stabbed repeatedly as he spoke at an event in Chautauqua, in upstate New York, losing an eye.

His accused attacker, Hadi Matar, who is charged with attempted murder, had been a supporter of the Iranian regime on social media.

The Oberlin professor has also been accused of helping the Iranian government cover up the massacre of thousands of jailed political opponents in 1988, according to a February report by Amnesty International by calling the murders "misinformation" and "political propaganda" at the UN.

While working as a diplomat for Iran, he claimed it was "a religious obligation" for Muslims to "liberate" Palestine from "Zionist usurpers."

Students boycotted Mahallati's classes, which were canceled in the spring. A spokeswoman for Oberlin told The Post Tuesday that Mahallati was on "sabbatical" this semester.

The antisemitism complaint also accuses Oberlin of failing to keep Jewish students safe.

It details how, in the fall of 2014, members of a campus group Students for a Free Palestine placed more than 2,000 black flags outside of a venue where Jewish students were holding Rosh Hashanah services.

The flags were meant to imply that Oberlin's Jewish population were responsible for events in Israel, Landa alleged in her complaint.

A banner that accompanied the flags referred to Israel's actions in the 2014 Gaza War as "murder," according to the complaint.

A year later the student group posted on social media: "You're NOT taking a 'neutral stance' by refusing to endorse divestment. You're saying you don't mind that yr tuition funds murder, torture."

Oberlin did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. Mahallati did not return an email seeking comment Wednesday.

In New York, the state Division of Human Rights has opened an investigation into whether CUNY's School of Law discriminated against Jews when its faculty council passed a resolution last year supporting the pro-Palestinian BDS movement against Israel.

Antisemitic Vandals Target Philadelphia County Coffee Shop by Ripping Down Israeli Flag

Police are investigating a possible antisemitic incident at a Bucks County coffee shop.

An Israeli flag was ripped off one of its walls and the vandals were captured on camera. 

"It was a very cowardly act," Lawrence Kalikhman, a partner at Café Ole, said. 

The act happened at Café Ole in The Valley Wednesday night.

About an hour before closing, one of the partners said four men in masks came in and ripped the flag off the wall. 

"Started screaming, 'Free Palestine.' Ripped the flag off," Kalikhman said. 

Kalikhman said the group then ran with the flag around the shopping center, before taking off.

Upper Southampton police said they're investigating the incident, but declined to provide further details.

One of the partners is Israeli and the flag ripped down was up for weeks.

"I don't know what they were trying to accomplish, but what they did accomplish was hate and terror," Kalikhman said. 

Customers packed the place Thursday in a show of support.

"I'm here every day talking to him about his cousin, his family there. It hit pretty hard, pretty fast," said Gennadiy Geyeler, whose a regular at the cafe. 

Now, an Israeli flag is back up on the wall inside Café Ole in the Valley.

"This is where the Jewish community comes. This is where the non-Jewish community comes," Monique Hofkin said. 

After hearing of what happened, Hofkin decided to offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to each arrest in the incident.  

"I felt like I had to do something," Hofkin said. "This is my place. This is all of our place. When you do something to one of us, you do something to all of us."

After the incident, the owners said it won't stop them from doing what they love to do in the form of coffee, pastries and company.

Famous California Jewish Deli Targeted by Anti-Israel Vandals

L.A. police are investigating a possible hate crime after antisemitic graffiti was found in the parking lot of an iconic Jewish delicatessen in the Fairfax District Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed to KTLA.  

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the 400 block of Fairfax Avenue at around 10:40 a.m. on reports of the hateful messages sprayed across the building.  

A photograph of the graffiti in the Canters Deli parking lot showed three different areas beneath a mural depicting Jewish history in L.A. defaced with phrases that read, “Israels only religion is capitalism,” “How many dead in the name of greed?” and “Free Gaza.”  

Sandie Sampson-Stellavato and her husband Chris had come to Canters for some comfort and and were disturbed to learn that that landmark had been the victim of a possible hate crime.

“There’s so much antisemitism and hatred in this world and it’s very frightening,” Sandie told KTLA’s Samantha Cortese.

“We live in a divided world and divided country where we are pitted against each other for politics and now religion,” Chris said. “That’s never good.”

Investigators are looking into other reports of vandalism nearby. Across from the deli, at the Chabad-Atara’s Judaica, “Free Gaza” can be seen tagged on plywood all the way down Fairfax Avenue.

“It’s abhorrent,” said Dr. Martha Johnson, a Canters patron. “It’s just unacceptable. It’s just hideous, we can’t live like that. It’s such a great place to eat. It makes me sad. There’s so much hate in the country. We can’t live with this level of hate.”

One of the oldest delis in California, Canters is a third-generation family-run business.

“Canters Deli is a place of solace and they come for the old-fashioned Jewish food that reminds them of their past,” a history of the deli on the website reads.

Campaign Signs in Washington Vandalized with Nazi Symbols Ahead of Election

With less than a week to go until election day, one campaign in Tacoma is dealing with vandalism of some of its campaign signs. Tacoma for All, which is campaigning to pass Initiative One on the ballot found that some of its signs had been vandalized with painted swastikas.

“It’s just an abomination to what we stand for in the United States,” Michael Locascio, who lives in Tacoma, said. “I think anything showing swastikas is a horrible thing for the United States because it reminds me of Nazi Germany.”

Ty Moore, is the campaign manager for Tacoma for All. He said this was shocking.

“We call initiative one a tenant bill of rights for Tacoma and it brings together tenant protections that have been passed in other cities across the state into a package,” Moore said. “It includes eviction protections for students, young people during the school year for failure to pay rent and a winter eviction protection for failure to pay rent and it includes relocation assistance for when excessive rent hikes force tenants to move out.”

Moore said the campaign has been polarizing with strong support on both sides.

“Obviously it’s really hurtful. We don’t know who did it but it’s a very offensive thing,” Moore said. “We have no reason to believe the official opposition had anything to do with it.”

The Tacoma-Pierce County Realtors Association which opposes the measure put out this statement saying:

The No On Tacoma Measure 1 campaign is shocked to learn that Tacoma Measure 1 advocate political signs in Tacoma have been defaced. These actions are abhorrent and have no place in our society. Interfering with elections communications in any way is also illegal, and in this context is far worse than simply breaking the law. The No on Tacoma Measure 1 campaign is not involved in any way with these actions and asks for anyone with knowledge of this activity please step forward. -The Tacoma-Pierce County Realtors Association

Antisemitic Vandals Target Jewish Home with Violent Messages

OPP say they are investigating hate-motivated mischief after a home in Washago was tagged with antisemitic graffiti.

On Saturday, October 28, police say it was reported that the garage doors of a residence were spray painted with antisemitic messages.

Then on Tuesday, October 31, OPP say a second incident was reported at the same location with new threatening antisemitic messages.

Ryan Merovitz lives in the home with his wife and 18-year-son.

“We are absolutely rattled, shaken, appalled and shocked.”

Merovitz says the community has been incredible with their support and outreach.

“I am still shocked and saddened, but I have for the most part moved more to the anger phase that this has happened.”

There was also an incident earlier this month, according to Merovitz, where two men approached the house while his wife was home and then they turned around and left.

Though he says they returned a few weeks later.

”On the 13th (October), there was a couple of men both dressed in suits and our dog started barking. My wife went to go see why and one of them had their hand against the window of the front door and they started taking pictures of our mezuzah,” he explained.

Police say the OPP Forensic Identification Unit and the OPP Hate Crime and Extremism Unit (HCEU) are providing support with the investigation.

“The OPP takes hate-motivated crimes very seriously as they undermine public safety, negatively impact our communities and can escalate toward criminal extremism,” OPP stated in a release. “Hate-motivated crimes are illegal under the Criminal Code. It is important that hate-motivated crimes and incidents are reported to the police.”

“Hate-motivated crimes are illegal and unacceptable,” said Inspector Coyer Yateman, Detachment Commander. “We will not tolerate these incidents in our communities. We encourage anyone with information to come forward. All tips will be thoroughly investigated.”

Canadian Jewish School Heightens Security Measures Following Bomb Threat

The Ottawa Jewish Community School says they received an anonymous bomb threat on Tuesday afternoon.

The school says the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) was immediately contacted and initiated an investigation.

OPS says after an on-scene investigation, they determined there was no danger to the school or the Soloway Jewish Community Centre next door.

The school did not comment on whether the school was evacuated and there is no indication the incident is related to the threats made to Catholic schools across Ontario on Wednesday.

"The incident is a tragic reminder that the Jewish community must remain vigilant at a time of increased antisemitism in not only the Middle East, but also here in Canada and around the world," said Jon Mitzmacher, head of the Ottawa Jewish Community School.

"Jewish schools should not have to consider being open as an act of courage and Jewish parents should not have to consider sending their children to school as an act of bravery."

Mitzmacher said today marks the start of Holocaust Education Month and "this incident is another reminder that all Canadians have a role to play in both teaching and learning about the past to stand up against those who preach hatred and incite violence today."

Police say the matter remains under investigation.

Police say they've been concerned about hate-motivated criminal incidents in recent weeks which includes graffitti, vandalism, hate mail and threats.

The incidents have targeted Jewish and Muslim community members, read a statement attributed to Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs.

"Hate speech, symbols and other hate-motivated incidents are unacceptable," Stubbs said.

"Those incidents can have a lasting impact not only on those who have been targeted, but throughout the neighbourhoods and communities where they occur."

OPS says they remain in close contact with community leaders and institutions. 

There will also be an increased police presence in areas of religious and cultural significance.

Wisconsin 'Goyim Defense League' (GDL) Members Dress as Orthodox Jews to Distribute Antisemitic Propaganda on Halloween

Residents on Wausau’s southeast side say a group of people dressed in traditional Jewish costumes circulated antisemitic leaflets on Halloween throughout the neighborhood.

Multiple people on Wausau’s Southeast Side Facebook Group reported seeing the group, each person wearing a mask and estimated to be in their 20s. A copy of the pamphlet was emailed to Wausau Pilot & Review.

Another member of the group said she received the same pamphlet being distributed on Halloween on her car last weekend while working in Weston. Some parents said the leaflets were handed out to children as well.

The Jewish advocacy group StopAntisemitism has been tracking the activities of those responsible - the Goyim Defense League’ or ‘GDL’ for nearly five years and state they vilify Jews with their premeditated hate campaigns.

Residents responded on social media with anger and called the actions “awful” and “sickening.”

“So very sad to see this,” wrote one poster.

One resident said members of the group yelled at her while she was in front of a home with her son.

The propaganda distribution comes amid a wave of anti-Jewish sentiment in Wisconsin and nationwide. And a Wausau man running for mayor launched a Facebook page for his campaign that includes antisemitic material. The same man spoke during a Marathon County committee meeting to accuse Jews who have “dual citizenship with Israel” of creating a COVID-19 “scam” during a public meeting, amid a mix of stunned gaps and apparent admiration from the crowd.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said this week that domestically, there is a “societal” problem “right now of people manifesting hatred or violence.”

Jewish Community Center in Nebraska Receives Suspicious Package Filled with Powdery Substance

Omaha Police say their officers, the U.S. Postal Service, and Omaha Fire personnel were on the scene Wednesday morning at the "Jewish Community Center" in west Omaha after a suspicious white powder was discovered in a package around 8:45 a.m.

Police say the substance and the person who opened it were isolated, and no negative impacts have been reported to this point as the powder is tested.

The Omaha Jewish Community Center complex is on 132nd Street between Pacific Street and West Dodge Road.

FBI Nabs Illegal Alien in Texas Plotting Bomb Attacks to Target Jewish Community

FBI Director Christopher Wray told Senators today that an illegal alien arrested last week in Houston threatened Jews and wanted to learn how to build bombs.

Sohaib Abuayyash was arrested last week. At the time it was on a gun charge, and the FBI said he was in contact with others who had a "radical mindset. It was much worse than that.

Wray told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that Abuayyash was "studying how to build bombs," and "posted online about his support for killing Jews."

We're learning even more about Abuayyash.

He was arrested Thursday after the FBI reviewed videos on his social media, including an Aug. 11, 2023 recording that apparently showed him firing a rifle and semi-automatic pistols at a range in Houston.

According to legal documents, Abuayyash, a Jordanian citizen, came to the US in 2019 after applying for a tourist visa in Jerusalem and indicating he was a Palestinian citizen.

Abuayyash overstayed the visa and applied for asylum in 2020, which is still pending, the court records state. He was granted employment authorization in August 2023, which is due to expire in two years.

Wray is concerned there are others like Abuayyash out there.

"Here in the United States, our most immediate concern is that violent extremists — individuals or small groups — will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives," he told senators. "That includes not just homegrown violent extremists inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, but also domestic violent extremists targeting Jewish or Muslim communities."

Cornell Student Charged for Threatening to Kill Jewish Peers

The Cornell University student accused of making violent threats against his Jewish peers is a 21-year-old engineering student who suffers from such “severe depression” that his mother worried he was on the brink of suicide just moments before his arrest.

StopAntisemitism shared the first images of Patrick Dai on Twitter.

Patrick Dai, a junior at the prestigious university, was arrested by federal authorities Tuesday for making a string of disturbing online posts over the weekend threatening to kill and rape Jewish students and to “bring an assault rifle to campus.”

Investigators traced the deranged posts to Dai’s IP address at his off-campus apartment, where he admitted to being the culprit, according to a federal complaint.

Dai’s parents, however, believe their son is innocent.

“My son is in severe depression. He cannot control his emotion well due to the depression. No, I don’t think he committed the crime,” his father, who asked that his name not be used, told The Post in a text message.

Dai sank into a deep depression in 2021, one year after he started his engineering studies at the prestigious university, his parents said.

He entered the school as one of five National Merit Scholars named at Pittsford-Mendon High School and as a 12-time AP Scholar who also logged time volunteering at Rochester General Hospital.

At Cornell, Dai worked as an undergraduate consultant helping to tutor other engineering students with MATLAB, a computer programming language, and as the director of logistics for the school’s Science Olympiad.

Dai also worked as an orientation leader and was promoted to supervisor after just two months on the job, according to his LinkedIn.

Dai underwent a dramatic change after just one year, his parents said — though they adamantly emphasized that he never had a history of violence.

“He was always very nice to society, well organized, helpful to my family and his classmates before 2021,” his father said.

“He told us he lost his life goal and motivation … As parents, we tried to give him more love.”

At the suggestion of a doctor, Dai took off two semesters from his studies — in the spring of 2022 and 2023 — to try to recuperate, but struggled to regain his ambition.

Dai’s communications with his parents went dark just days before his arrest, around the time he posted the unhinged threats to “shoot up 104 West,” a university dining hall that caters predominantly to kosher diets, and to “slit the throat” of any Jewish men he came across.

“My wife called him or sent messages to him many times but got no answers. She was worrying that he may commit suicide and drove to his apartment to see what happened,” Dai’s father said.

Dai’s father does not believe his son is responsible for the messages posted to the forum because he “cannot control his emotion.”

By the time she made the 80-mile trip to the Ithaca building, Dai had already been arrested.

Instead of her son, she saw several police officers stationed outside her son’s college home.

Although they don’t believe their son is responsible for the antisemitic posts, Dai’s parents theorize his depression is somehow linked to the case.

When asked what the connection would be, Dai’s father said: “Please contact his doctor for this question. It is too complicated for me.”

Dai is charged with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications — which could land him in jail for up to five years as well as a $250,000 fine.

It is not clear whether he has retained an attorney.

Dai is scheduled to appear in federal court on Wednesday.

Israeli Hostage Signage Repeatedly Targeted at University of Minnesota

As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on overseas, the Jewish community is sounding the alarm about antisemitism here at home.

A sign showing photographs of the hostages held by Hamas was knocked down twice outside a Jewish student center on the University of Minnesota campus.

Posters have gone up around the world, showing the faces of the more than 200 hostages seized by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Hillel, the Jewish student center just off the University of Minnesota campus, put the posters outside their building, and they've since been repeatedly vandalized. In broad daylight, surveillance cameras show the poster being kicked down and stomped on. And then on Saturday night, after the posters were repaired, they were kicked down again.

"It was a sad moment to see it, but when you understand the vitriol that is being spewed on college campuses, I can understand why someone would do it," Hillel executive director Benjie Kaplan said.

Posters too obscene to share in this story have also been plastered around campus. Students at Hillel say they are struggling.

"The pain is so overwhelming for so many of us — Jewish, Palestinian, Israeli alike," senior Izzy Lundquist said.

Lundquist says the bitter divide is deepening.

"When someone sees the pain of one side being acknowledged, they view it as an erasure of the other pain that is being caused," Lundquist said.

Hillel says the University of Minnesota police have increased surveillance of their building. Kaplan says once the posters are repaired they will once again be placed outside the Hillel building. And they will stay there until the hostages are back home.

Officials with the University of Minnesota gave WCCO the following statement:

"Beyond responding promptly to any reports of crime or bias, the University takes a multi-layered approach to supporting students, faculty and staff any time a local, national or international situation may cause stress. The safety of all members of our community is our top priority. “

"Specifically, U of M leaders, Student Affairs representatives and others have reached out to individuals affected by the unfolding crisis in Israel and Gaza. In addition, this Current Event Stress Support page, Systemwide and Campus Resources offered by the Office for Equity and Diversity, and Resources for Students and Scholars During a Crisis in their Home Country are just a few of the resources available, in addition to direct counseling and other services."

Pennsylvania Park Defaced with Antisemitic Rhetoric

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh received multiple reports of antisemitic graffiti in and around Shelburne Park in the Summerset neighborhood on the morning of Oct. 31. Tires were slashed in that area as well. As of press time, police were on the scene and were providing additional patrols in the area.

A wall outside Allderdice High School was also defaced last week with an antisemitic slogan. Several lawn signs supporting Israel in Squirrel Hill were defaced as well.

New York Community Horrified to Discover Local Jewish Cemetery Vandalized

Some in the local Jewish community worry that antisemitism may be the motive for vandalism at their cemetery.

Last week, a mowing crew discovered that three headstones were pushed over at Degel Israel Cemetery in the town of Watertown.

Cemetery Association board member Neil Katzman says he believes it happened over the last two weeks and worries the act may be related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“It could be possibly a hate crime and we have never had vandalism. I have worked at the cemetery probably 25, 30 years and I have never seen this before. So, as far as I am concerned, whether it is our cemetery or anyone else’s cemetery, it is a violation of sacred grounds and it is very upsetting,” he said.

“What struck me as almost surreal was why anybody would disturb graves,” said Anita Seefried-Brown, a member of Degel Israel Synagogue.

The headstones have been put back in their upright positions.

State police are investigating the case.

There were no security cameras on the grounds at the time of the vandalism. Katzman says the board is looking into putting up a surveillance system in the near future.

France Investigates as Dozens of Star of David Symbols Deface Buildings to Intimidate Jewish Citizens

Paris prosecutors opened an investigation on Tuesday, October 31, into 'some 60' Stars of David daubed on buildings in the 14th arrondissement of the capital, seen as threatening Jews amid the war between Israel and Hamas. The investigation for "damage to other people's property aggravated by the fact that it was committed on the grounds of origin, race, ethnicity or religion" has been entrusted to the Paris territorial police, the prosecutor's office said. This offense carries a maximum penalty of four years' imprisonment and a fine of €30,000.

The prosecutor's office said it did not know "whether these tags were intended to insult the Jewish people or to claim Jewish membership, particularly as they involved the blue star (not the yellow one)." "These stencils were marked on facades, in a way that was manifestly indifferent to what the buildings housed," says the public prosecutor. It has therefore not been established that this star has an anti-Semitic connotation, but this cannot be dismissed out of hand."

Earlier in the morning, the 14th arrondissement town hall had revealed that it had received "several reports of stars of David stenciled on numerous walls". "This act of stenciling is reminiscent of the methods used in the 1930s and the Second World War, which led to the extermination of millions of Jews," wrote the municipality in a press release, denouncing "antisemitic acts". "Antisemitism plastered on our streets as in the darkest hours", also commented Carine Petit, the borough's mayor.

Similar tags appeared last weekend in Paris suburbs including Vanves and Fontenay-aux-Roses (Hauts-de-Seine), as well as in Aubervilliers and Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis), where stencils were accompanied by inscriptions such as "From the sea to the Jordan, Palestine will overcome".

"I firmly condemn these racist and antisemitic acts. The culprits must be arrested and judged with the utmost severity", reacted the mayor of Saint-Ouen, Karim Bouamrane, on Monday. "Antisemitism is a crime", reiterated Aubervilliers Mayor Karine Franclet, who condemned the graffiti as "despicable acts."

"On behalf of the government, I condemn these despicable acts with absolute firmness," reacted Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne at the French Assemblée Nationale on Tuesday. She said that "to attack someone because they are Jewish (...) is to attack the very soul of the Republic". "It is the duty of the Republic to protect all the Jews of France", she insisted, asserting that "all those guilty of these acts must be questioned and condemned" and that "nothing can be tolerated, justified or excused."

Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2,500 reports of antisemitic acts have been registered in France, according to the French Ministry of the Interior. On Sunday, the French Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti, reported more than 400 arrests for "antisemitic acts."

Nazi Symbols Carve into Trees at Illinois Park

Champaign police are asking for help in learning who put a swastika on a tree in Mattis Park early Tuesday.

A passerby saw the hate symbol on a tree in the park in the 600 block of Devonshire Drive around 7 a.m. and notified police.

Lt. Brian Maloney said officers checked the area for any evidence that might help identify the person or people who put it there, then took it off the tree.

If you have information about this incident, call Champaign police at 217-351-4545. If you prefer to remain anonymous and possibly collect a reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 217-383-8477 or 373tips.com or via the free “P3 Tips” mobile app.

Nevada Man Taken into Custody for Making Violent Antisemitic Threats Against a Jewish Senator

A Nevada man has been charged and accused of leaving a series of antisemitic, profanity-laced voicemails at the office of Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.

John Anthony Miller, of Las Vegas, was arrested Thursday and appeared in federal court Friday in connection with one count of threatening a federal official, the Justice Department said in a news release. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.

According to court documents, Miller, 43, left a series of threatening and antisemitic voicemails at a Nevada senator's office this month that referred to Israel, Palestinians and the West Bank.

According to court documents, one voicemail tied to Miller’s phone number referred to finishing “what Hitler started.”

While the documents do not name the senator, Rosen's office confirmed Monday that the threats were directed against her.

Asked about the threats, Rosen told reporters on Capitol Hill, "I have full faith in our U.S. attorney, Department of Justice that they’ll take care of the situation.

Rosen, Nevada’s only Jewish U.S. senator, added that she'd seen the indictment earlier in the day.

Asked Tuesday what's going through her mind following the arrest, Rosen said: "You know, I’m feeling the same as Jews are feeling all around the world, under attack and under threat. Now, I have full confidence in our Department of Justice and law enforcement to work on this case. But frankly, students across the country, K through 12, our college campuses, look at the protests around the world — Jews are feeling under attack."

An FBI agent said in court documents that he had also reviewed another voicemail left at the senator’s office last week from an unidentified number that matched Miller’s voice and speech pattern. In that message, the caller threatened the senator’s family.

Miller also appeared at a courthouse in Las Vegas and suggested that he was going to see the lawmaker. When he was denied entry to the courthouse, he began yelling profanities, according to court documents.

A public defender listed for Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Rosen has been a prominent voice in the Senate calling for support for Israel in its brutal war with Hamas.

After she traveled to Israel this month, she urged the Senate to approve supplemental defense funding to the country and to quickly confirm Jack Lew as U.S. ambassador. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rosen also pressed the Defense Department to transfer various unused military assets to Israel.

Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 killed 1,400 people. Ensuing protests called for the Israel's annihilation or for genocide against the Jewish people.

Rosen discussed the increase in antisemitism Monday, telling reporters, “This is what Jews all around the world are facing.”

President Joe Biden unveiled new actions Monday to thwart a rising tide of antisemitism on college campuses.

The actions follow the Biden administration's announcement in May about a national strategy to battle antisemitism, which included dozens of new federal actions to strengthen awareness about antisemitism and protect Jewish communities.

Antisemitic 'Goyim Defense League' (GDL) Flyers Distributed in Tennessee Neighborhoods

Wes Human, a homeowner, said he imagines a world of love and kindness for his children. 

It's now routine for him to almost every day take his son to school and walk the dog. Yet Monday morning, Human realized his neighborhood in West Knox County woke up to find antisemitic fliers on its streets.

"So as I came up with the dog, I noticed it was a sandwich bag filled with flyers and bird seed," Human said. "I realized that it was basically Nazi propaganda. It was anti-Jewish, filled with hate speech, disgusting stuff."

As WBIR drove in the Cedar Bluff area neighborhood, the plastic baggies sat on many driveways. 

"It made me feel very mad," he said. "I didn't want hate in my neighborhood. Nobody does. And I would have hated for my kids to find it, or, you know, something like that."

The Jewish advocacy group StopAntisemitism has been tracking the activities of those responsible - the Goyim Defense League’ or ‘GDL’ for nearly five years and state they vilify Jews with their premeditated hate campaigns.

Bryan Goldberg, the president of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, said they talked to the US Attorney's office Monday morning. He said they're concerned and also nervous for the Muslim and Arab communities and they're reporting these incidents to the FBI, or local police.

While it's a rare situation here in Knoxville, Goldberg said it's still a wake-up call.

"People need to wake up," Goldberg said. "They need to call out antisemitism, they need to call that Islamophobia. They need to call out hate, they need to call it racism. We need to move to a better society where hate isn't allowed to exist."

The distributions that were found in West Knoxville is the third consecutive weekend of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance being aware that anti-Semitic fliers have gone out into people's neighborhoods, Goldberg said. 

Goldberg said this has been going on in the state of Tennessee and across America for at least two years, with incidents rising in the last six months. It's rare in Knoxville and Goldberg believes the goal of the people who put this stuff in mailboxes or driveways is to instill fear. 

"Right now, Jews in America are very afraid," he said. "What I would say to the community is if you see something, say something. It's not okay to take this and to throw it in your garbage. Call your local police department, you live in the city called KPD. You live in the county, call the sheriff's office, call the FBI. Let them know that this happened. Save the evidence. Take a picture of it."

Knoxville Police said they're aware of the antisemitic papers but they have not received such reports in the city.

Via a social media post, they encouraged anyone who receives such materials to contact local law enforcement. 

For Wes Human, it's about humanity.

"You can't go around hating, with that hate in your heart I feel bad for the people who threw it out almost as much as any of the neighbors that are offended by it because they're so misguided," he said. "Just so upset, and with themselves and with what they see, and they think this is the way to deal with it. And it's obviously not it's, you know, it's just wrong.

Goldberg said Knoxville is a great community because regardless of faith, race, or ethnicity it's a place of love and family.

For Human, it's about staying united and open. Even though people may be different, they can coexist harmoniously. 

"What we need is more kindness, more love," Human said. "We're not Jewish, we're not anything like that. However, it's still hatred. It's still on our doorstep basically... we just can't have that here. We can't have that anywhere."

Virginia High School Defaced with Swastikas

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after someone vandalized the Mechanicsville High School football field with graffiti, according to school officials.

"To our disbelief, this vandalism included a swastika. This obscene symbol of pure hate and intolerance has no place in our society and stands in direct opposition to the principles of unity, respect, and inclusion that we hold dear at our school and across our school division," Principal Charles Stevens and Superintendent Michael Gill wrote in a message to the community. "We are fully committed to holding those responsible for this disgraceful and unthinkable act accountable for their actions. Additionally, we took immediate steps to remove the graffiti from the field."

The letter went on to call the vandalism "an affront" to the school's principles and values.

"We condemn this vile act of vandalism, antisemitism, and all forms of hatred in the strongest possible terms," the letter read. "We are committed to being a school division where all students, faculty, staff, and community members feel welcome, valued, and safe. Again, we unequivocally denounce this vandalism and the hateful symbol used."

A torrent of antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric has flowed on social media worldwide amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

President Joe Biden's administration on Monday condemned what it says is an alarming increase in antisemitic incidents at U.S. schools and colleges.

A statement from the White House says the departments of Justice and Homeland Security have been hosting calls with campus law enforcement officials to offer support and address threats.